Buyers are often tempted to cut corners on things like home inspections to save money for fun items like furniture or a big-screen television. Don’t! A home inspection is one of the best investments you can benefit from when purchasing a new home or other real estate.
Learn how to use a home inspection to your advantage with these pointers.
Plan and Prepare
Think of a home inspection as a fact-finding mission. Having a complete home inspection performed is one step toward finding out … [Read more...]

When it comes to major life events, moving is among the most stressful. But did you know that changing where you live can be just as traumatic and worrying for children as it is for adults?
If you’re a parent, it’s wise to consider the impact a move will have on your youngsters well in advance of moving day. Try to minimize any negative effects by talking through the realities of the changes your child is likely to experience.
Even very young children can become fearful or insecure if they … [Read more...]

Selling a home with a pet in residence can be a difficult undertaking.
Many home buyers - even those with pets of their own at home - can be put off by yours.
Pets Can Make Visitors Nervous
No one thinks of their own pet as scary. But even the mildest mannered cat or dog (not to mention snakes or mice!) can make a visitor nervous.
Perhaps the most common response from a home seller about the “threat” posed by their pet is denial: “Buffy is a sweetheart. She won’t hurt anyone.”
But no … [Read more...]

A home office is on its way to becoming an essential item on a house buyer's wish list. After all, many people work at least part of the time at home — and even if they don't, they still want somewhere to store the computer and their household papers.
Here are some tips to help you create an attractive home office that you'll actually want to spend time in.
An attractive place to work
A home office doesn't have to be just functional — it can be attractive, too. So take as much care with the … [Read more...]

Recession and Expansion
There are times when the economy is brisk and everyone feels confident about his or her prospects for the future. As a result, they spend money. People eat out more, buy new cars, and…
…they buy new homes.
Then, for one reason or another, the economy slows down. Companies lay off employees and consumers are more careful about where they spend money, perhaps saving more than usual. As a result, the economy decelerates even further. If it slows enough, we have a … [Read more...]

When conversing with real estate agents, you will often find that when they talk to you about buying real estate, they will refer to your purchase as a “home.” Yet if you are selling property, they will often refer to it as a “house.” There is a reason for this. Buying real estate is often an emotional decision, but when selling real estate you need to remove emotion from the equation.
You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Property. Real estate. Your goal is to get others … [Read more...]

For most people, changing employers will not really affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage loan, especially if you are going to be earning more money. For some homebuyers, however, the effects of changing jobs can be disastrous to your loan application.
How Changing Jobs Effects Buying a Home
Salaried Employees
If you are a salaried employee who does not earn additional income from commissions, bonuses, or over-time, switching employers should not create a problem. Just make sure … [Read more...]